Multiple pump unit for a well installation



May 15, 1951 E. K. BAKER 2,552,762

MULTIPLE PUMP UNIT FOR A WELL INSTALLATION My 15, 1951 E. K. BAKER2,552,762

MULTIPLE PUMP UNIT FOR A WELL INSTALLATION Filed July 14, 1948 2Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR. Zza I BY @WL W PMF Patented May 15, 1951 UNITEDI STATES PATENT GFFICE MULTIPLE PUMP UNIT FOR A WELL INSTALLATION ErleK. Baker, Detroit, Mich., assignor to VBaker Axle Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 14, 1948, Serial No. 38,730

3 Claims. l

of the type of the hand operated lift pump `rdi narily employed on farmsand in rural dwellings,

to shelter the pump within a pump house excavated below the frost line,particularly if suitable heating facilities are not available.Frequently in such installations, Water which collects by condensationon the comparatively cool walls of the underground pump house in warmweather,

or seeps through the walls, or which is acci-A dentally spilled from thepump, becomes objectionable and must be pumped from the pump house. V

It is also often desirable in such installations, particularly with thehand operated lift pump, to employ a power driven pumping mechanismcooperable with the hand pump for delivering water The `problemimmediately arises under pressure. regarding the provision of amechanism foroper-f ating the several pumps involved With optimumeconomy and efciency and with a minimum of maintenance expenses andunnecessary operation and Wear. Y

Inasmuch as the reciprocating plunger type of pump commonly availablefor small installations only delivers during half of each pumping` cycleand is under no load during. each non-pumping. half cycle, theconventional practice of provid--` Accordingly, an important object ofthe present invention is to provide an improved simplified and highlyefficient pumpoperating means which is particularly but not exclusivelyadapted for operating an existing hand operated lift pump installed inan underground pump house and for simultaneously operating a sump pump.

Another object is to provide `an eliicient, eco. nomical pumpingmechanism which is` adapted,

for operating a sump pump` and a conventional hand operated liftpump,and which is cooperable with the latter for effecting delivery under.

pressure.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved simpleand eilicient pumping mechanism which may be readily detachablyconnected with a hand operated lift pump for operation thereof, orreadily disconnected therefrom,

to permit hand operation of the pump, and which is operatively connectedwith a sump pump and a pressure pump, the latter being in series withtheA lift pump for effecting delivery under pressure; and to providesuch a pumping mechanism which is readily adapted for power operation.

Another object is to provide a pumping mechanism of the characterdescribed employing a pivotal pump operating lever pivotally connectedto a fixed support and operatively connected with a sum pump, a pressurepump, and a lift pump at corresponding points spaced at progressivelylarger distances from said iixed pivot support in the foregoing order,the sump and lift pumps being operated upon pivotal movement of the pumpoperating lever in one direction and the pressure pump being operatedupon pivotal moverment of the pump operating lever in the otherdirection, thereby achieving optimum utility and operating efficiencyfrom the pumping mechanism and the several pumps and avoiding thenecessity of multiple pumping mechanisms or an over-size pumpingmechanism to operate the several pumps simultaneously.

Another object is to provide such a pumpingr mechanism which isparticularly but not exclu' sively adapted for use with thereciprocating plunger type of pump.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this speciiication wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

The above and other objects are accomplished in a preferred embodimentof the present invention comprising a conventional hand operatedreciprocating plunger type lift pump mounted within an underground pumphouse below the frost line. The plunger of the lift pump is operativelyconnected with a pivotallyA oscillating power driven pump operatinglever which is pivotally secured to a xed pivot support. In order tosupply water from the lift pump under pressure, a comparatively highpressure reciprocating plunger type pressure pumpis employed inseriesbetween the lift pump and a pressure storage tank and isoperatively connected with the aforesaid.

asser/ea 3 pivotal lever. Adequate leverage to operate the pressure pumpis assured by operatively connecting the latter with the pivotal leverat a point intermediate the fixed pivot supportJ and the aforesaidoperative connection between the piv otal lever and the lift pumpplunger.

A sump is provided within the floor of the pump house to collect Waterslowly accumulating within the latter and is in communication with theinlet conduit of a reciprocating plunger type sump pump. The dischargeconduit of the sump pump leads to the exterior of the pump house. Theplunger of the sump pump is operatively connected to the pivotal leverfor actu*- ation thereby at a point intermediate the -Xed pivot supportand the operative connection between the pressure pump and the pivotallever. By this construction, the operating stroke of the sump pump willbe comparatively short with respect to the stroke of the lift pump andwill be. in. accordance with the output normally required from thatpump. Thus, needless opera.- tion and the pumping of air :by the sumppump is 'largelyV avoided, maintenance and repairs are minimized, and alonger operating life is assured.

It is `apparent that the power required 'to operate the pressure pump,so as to effect delivery from the 'lift pump under comparatively highpressure, 'will be .appreciably greater than. the power :required tooperate the lift pump and the sump pump combined in ordinarycircumstances. Likewise, it is apparent that upon each non-pumpingreturn stroke of the vreciprocating pressure pump plunger, the powermeans therefor 'will be running idly under essentially no load. Without.a provision to the contrary, expensive power equipment `will beeffectively utilized only half. the time. Inorder to avoid such wastearid to utilize eiciently the available power of the pressure pumpdriving means on each nonpumping half cycle of the pressure pump, thesump pump and -lift pump are 4adapted for yoperation 'upon movement ofthe pivotal lever lin one direction The pressure -pump lis adapted foroper-ation upon-movement of .the pivotal lever in Athe other direction.Thus, the power means employed to Aoscillate the pivotal lever is`-u-r-uller load regardless of' the direction of movement of the latterand is utilized-at all times at essentially itsemos't eiiicient ratedcapacity.

Details of a preferred embodiment .of vthe present invention areillustra-ted in the drawings wherein:

Fig. l isa fragmentary ver-tical'sectionthrough a pump house showing inside elevation a pump operating mech-anism embodying the presentinvention.

-Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing the fulcrumed handle for the'hand operated lift pump operatively coupled with the lift pump plungerfor hand operation.

Fig. I3 lis a fragmentary vertical section through a pump `.houseshowing in side elevation another embodiment of a pumpoperatingmechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken in the direction of t'hearrows along the line 'Before explaining the present .invention indetail itis to be understood that the invention is not limited iin itsrapplication 'to the details of construction and arrangement of parts.illustrated in the :accompanying drawings, since Athe invention visrcapable of .other embodiments .and of beingpract'iced' 'or Vcarried'out in'various ways.

Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, a conventional hand operated lift pump,indicated generally by the numeral I0, is shown with the conventionalreciprocating plunger shaft I2 'adapted `for an adjustable operativeconnection with the pump handle I4. As indicated in Fig. 2 and in thephantom portion of Fig. l, one end of the pump handle I4 provides aconventional clevis I6 adapted for selective detachable pivotalconnection with one of the adjusting pivot holes I8 in the shaft I2. Thehandle I4 is also adjustably fulcrumed at one -of the adjusting pivotholes 2U within theccmiecting link 22. The latter is pivotally connectedat 24 to the lower end of the supporting bracket 26 of the pump l0 andhaving the upper guide 28 which encircles and guides the reciprocatingplunger shaft I2. By selectively connecting the handle I4 at the pivotholes I8 'and 28; the stroke and operative positions of the handleI4-and shaft 2I2 may be suitably determined. It is apparent from theconstruction shown that by `disconnecting the clevis I6 'from its pivothole I8. the link 22 may be dropped pivotally downward to swing thehandle I4 out of the Way when the pump IIJ is power operated.

herein shown, -the pump l0 is suitably mounted Within an underground.pump house 3B which is preferably 'sufciently below vthe ground level32 to minimize rthed'anger Aof freezing water Within thepump mechanism.Access to the pump house `3l) is achieved 'by the stairs 34' leading tothe exterior through a `*door not shown.

The upper portion yof the pump house '30 is suitably enclosed within. ashelter having side Walls V36, a roof 381and whichisuppoirts aplatform'.

40 `for the pump actuating :power mechanism. The latter includes .a pumpjack *42 .secured to the platform 40 and operatively driven by the largepulley 44 for oscillating the lever arm 46 about the .pivot 48.*Ihelar'ge pulley 44 is operatively coupled with. the motor .50 by means-of the motor pulleys `52 and `drive belt -54 for rotation thereby. Themotor 50'is supported onaplatform -56 which in turn is 4mounted lon thepump jack 42. Details fof the construction and operationof a suitablepump ljac'k mechanism for pivotally -oscillating the lever 46#upon-rotation of the pulley 4:4 are Well known to the art and areaccordingly not described herein.

The Adistal Vend of 'the lever '46V is pivotally connected -at158 itctheupper end of -a iconriecting shaft "or rod 60, which is pivotallysecured at `62 at its Ilower end t'o the `pivotal 4pump operating levery64. The latter `has oneend pivotally secured to a fixed pivot support"6'6 and is also vpivotally Y connected -at `ilvvith the upper end 44ofthereciprocating pumpplunger I 2.

Upon pivotal oscillation of the arm 46', the' pivotal 4lever 64 vis`also pivotally oscillated toreciprocate the plunger I2 and operate-thefpump I0. -The discharge -foutlet flu-of the latteris -de tachablyconnected through a flexible conduit 12 andv 'check-'valve 14 ytoi-the4i'nlet lof a Apressure Vpump 'luhavingia'n output y'comparable to theoutput of the 'pump IIJ for delivering Water received therefrom at highpressure through the'ch'eck valve 'I4 and into the -pressurejstoragetank 80. Y

The pump T16 isactuated by `a reciprocating plunger '82pivotallyf'oonnected Vat L84 to `the lower end of lafshaft or rod 8'6'which in turn isp'ivotally .secured at its upper 'end-fat 8'8 fto fthepivotal lever 64. Also'operatively connected at 90 to the pivotal lever64 is the upper end of a plunger 92 for` a sump pump 94 having its lowerinlet port 96 in communication with a sump 98 in the iioor of the' pumphouse 39. The discharge outlet IDU of the sump pump 94 is communicatedto the exterior of the pump house 30.by conduit means not shown. i

The sump pump 94 is preferably of the lift pump type and operates underload with the lift pump I upon upward movement of the pivotal lever 64.The pump 16 is preferably of the comn` pression type and operates underload `on the.

downward stroke of the pivotallever 64.A It 'is thus apparent that thearrangement described herein is adapted for operating the pumps I Il and94 under load during the half-cycle when the pump 16 is not under load,permitting eflicient utilizationof the pumping mechanism throughout thepumping cycle.

Inasmuch as the sump pump 94 4'is ordinarily required merely to drainthe sump 98 from water slowly accumulating within the pump house 38. asby vapor condensation on its comparatively cool walls or by seepagethroughA the latter, the

capacity or output of theV pump 94 will be lap-V preciably less than thecapacity of the pump I6. The -requirements of the pump 94 will besatisfied' with a much smaller cylinder diameter and operating strokethan required for the pump I0. The preferred construction shown locatesthe pivotal connection 96 comparatively close to the fixed pivot supportl66 whereat the magnitude of pivotal movement of the lever 64 isrelatively small. Thus, the stroke of the plunger 92 is maintained atthe desired small value required to to keep the sump 98 drained, andexcess plunger movements which Would result in urinecessary wear andmaintenance expenses are avoided.

In operation of the present invention, the motor 59 drives the largepulley 44, which in turn pivotally oscillates the arm 46 through themechanism of the pump jack 42. The pivotal movement of the arm 46 isimparted to the pump operating lever 64 by the connecting link 68,thereby reciprocating the plungers or" the pumps Ill, I6 and 94. On theupward stroke of the lever 64. the pumps IU and 94 are under theiroperating pumping loads. A charge of water is then delivered under 'lowpressure from the pump I0 via the check valve 'I4 to the pump 'I6 duringthe non-pumping half cycle of the latter. On the downward stroke of thelever 64, the pump 'I6 is under its operating load and pumps the watertherein through the check valve 'I8 and under high pressure into thepressure storage tank 80. During this stroke, the pumps I6 and 94 are intheir non-pumping half cycles.

When the pumps are power driven as above described, the pump handle I4may be disconnected from the plunger shaft I2 if desired and allowed tohang in the inoperative position shown in solid lines, Fig. 1. In theevent of power failure or for other reasons, the link 60 may bedisconnected at 62 from the lever 64. The handle clevis I6 is thensuitably connected to the shaft I2 at one of the pivot holes I8 topermit manual operation of the pumping apparatus shown. In thisconnection, it is to be observed that the operative connection 88between the plunger shaft 86 and the lever 84 is appreciably nearer thepivot support 66 than is the connection 68 between the shaft I2 andlever 64, so as to provide the increased leverage required for manualopachieved by locating the pivot support 66 interf-V mediate the ends ofthe lever 64. In such a situation, one or more of the connections 68, 88or 96may be located on the other side of the pivot. support at distancestherefrom corresponding to, the distances shown. The pumps I0, 'I8 and94.

will be adapted accordingly so that the pump 'I6 will be under pumpingload upon pivotal move--V ment of the lever 64 in one direction, andthe..

pumps I0 and 94 will be under pumping load upon pivotal movement of thelever 64 in the other direction.

When delivery under pressure is not required,

the shaft 86 may be disconnected at 88 from the. lever 64, and theflexible coupling 'I2 may be.

disconnected from the pump Ill, permitting deliveryjvdirectly from thedischarge outlet 10 according to conventional practice. Similarly, the:

shaft 92 may be disconnected at 98 from the lever 64 duringdry seasons,for example, when operation of the sump pump 92 is not required.

Figs. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the present invention which issimilar in construction and operation to that described above. Theprimary modification shown is the mounting of the power mechanism on theiioor of the pum-p house 38a, adapting the present invention tosituations wherein the head room provided by the roof 38a, for example,is less than the head room available under the roof 38.

The connecting link 60 and oscillating arm 46 of Fig. l are shown asdouble links 60a and 60h which extend upright from the double arms 46aand 46h respectively in Figs. 3 and 4. The pivotal connection1 62 at theend of the pivotal lever 64 is completed with the cross bar 62a joiningthe upper ends of connecting arms 60a, 60h. In all other respects, theoperation and construction of the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4are the same as the corresponding apparatus described in connection withFigs. 1 and 2, and bear the same identifying numerals.

I claim:

1. In a pumping mechanism for a pump house below ground level, a liftpump having a reciprocating plunger, a fixed pivot support, meansdetachably connected with said plunger for reciprocation thereof andincluding a swinging lever pivotally connected at one end to said fixedpivot support, mechanism for providing delivery under pressure from saidpump and including a motor operatively connected to the other end ofsaid lever for pivotally oscillating the latter and also including apressure pump having a reciprocating plunger operatively connected withsaid lever for actuation thereby, the inlet of said pressure pump beingdetachably coupled with the outlet of said lift pump, and a sump pumphaving a reciprocating plunger operatively connected with said lever foractuation thereby, the connection of said sump pump plunger with saidlever being at a distance intermediate said fixed pivot support and theconnections of said lever with said pressure pump and lift pump, saidlift and sump pumps being adapted for operation 'under'..load on thepivotal movement of said lever.

in one..idirection and said pressure pumpv being adapted for operationunder load vupon pivotal movement of` said 'lever in the otherdirection.

.2.V In a pumping mechanism useful within an underground pump house,..alift pump having' a reciprocating plunger, a ixed pivot support. meansconnected to said plunger for 4reciprocation thereof and including aswinging lever .pvotally connected to said -iixed pivot support,actua'ting means for pivotally oscillating said lever, a sump pumphaving a reciprocating plunger operatively connected to said swinginglever for reciprocation thereby .and a pressure pump in series .withsaid lift pump for effecting delivery under pressure and having areciprocatingplunger operatively connected to said lever forreciprocation thereby, the connection of said sump pumpv plunger withsaid lever being at a distance from said .fixed pivot support less thanthe distance between said xed pivot support-and the connection of saidlever with said lift pump plunger or said pressure pump plunger, saidlift and sump pumps being adapted for operation under load on thepivotal movement of said lever inl one direction and said pressure pumpbeing adapted for operation under load upon pivotal movementrof saidlever in the other direction.

3. Inga pumping mechanism for a pump house below ground level, a liftpump having a re- 30 ci'procatng plunger, .a pressure pump injsere'swithlsaid lift pump for effecting delivery under.,v

pressure and having la reciprocating plunger; aA fixed pivot support,` aswinging lever pivotally f connected to said xed pivot. support andpivotally connected to each yof said lift pump and pressure pumpplungers, a sump pump having.. a reciprocating plunger pivotallyconnectedv to said lever at a distance from said pivot support load uponpivotal movement of said lever in the other direction. f

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thei le ofthis patent: t

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,571,915 Frier Feb. `2, 1926v2,168,669V Ernst Aug. 18,1939 2,429,384

ERLE K. BAKER.

Baker oct. 21, 194i

